In the Syrian village of Al-Nour for the Blind in Idlib province, residents make extensive use of screen-reading programs and artificial intelligence tools. Umm Adnan says she could not read the display on her washing machine, so she began using an AI-powered camera. She says this has made life noticeably easier—at home, when going out, and even when memorizing the Quran. Her experience shows that technology here addresses practical everyday needs rather than simply serving as a sign of gadget ownership.
One resident, Mahmoud Hamza, who is blind, helps new smartphone users install apps and learn useful features, including calls, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook. He also teaches others to use the “Jishu” app, guiding learners’ hands across their phone screens. The help does not end with installing an app: people learn to carry out tasks they actually need to do, and one resident’s personal experience becomes a shared resource. The World Health Organization likewise identifies user training as a key step in providing assistive products, alongside assessing needs, selecting a tool, and providing follow-up support.
The report explains the difference between a screen reader such as TalkBack, which lets users operate an Android device without looking at the screen, and using an AI-powered camera. Umm Adnan needed information outside her phone—on the washing machine display—so she used an AI camera, not just app navigation. The report presents both functions together, although it does not name the specific camera tool.
Al-Nour village director Amer Mahmoud Jarrad says his phone helps him stay in touch with relevant authorities and calls smartphone use the secret of his success. Information systems specialist Nabil al-Maaroufi noted in a 2023 Al Jazeera Net report on Morocco that assistive software on phones and computers makes learning and independent study easier for blind people. In his view, Al-Nour’s experience is valuable not only because of the apps themselves, but also because they are combined with training and the sharing of skills.
News context
- How is local administration organized in Idlib, and what does the title “village director,” who liaises with relevant authorities, mean? — Local administration in Idlib is fragmented and is not recognized by the international community. The dominant force, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, operates through the so-called “Syrian Salvation Government,” with its ministries and departments, while local councils and municipalities work at the community level. A “village director” is generally a local administrative coordinator appointed or approved by a local council or authority. The director liaises with relevant departments on issues such as water, electricity, roads, schools, healthcare, civil records, and aid; reports the village’s needs; and helps carry out decisions. This is neither a diplomatic post nor a universally recognized government position. Its responsibilities vary from one community to another and may overlap with the traditional role of a mukhtar, or village headman.
- What humanitarian and infrastructure constraints in Idlib affect blind residents’ access to smartphones, the internet, and assistive apps? — Access is limited by power outages and the high cost of generators, damaged telecommunications infrastructure, weak and expensive mobile internet, the high cost of smartphones, poverty, and difficulties with imports and banking. Other obstacles include a shortage of specialized apps and Arabic screen readers, limited digital-skills training and support for blind people, weak accessibility standards, humanitarian aid being stretched by basic needs, and the limited inclusion of people with disabilities. As a result, even when blind residents have a smartphone, they often cannot use the internet and assistive apps reliably. Conditions vary across Idlib.
Full story: قرية النور بإدلب.. التقنية وتبادل الخبرة يعززان استقلالية المكفوفين